The Black Cats are officially relegated after they were beaten 2-1 by Burton at the stadium of Light on Saturday.

Former man Darren Bent got in on the act, scoring Burton's equaliser that led to Liam Boyce scoring the killer goal that condemned them to League One.

After, manager Chris Coleman apologised to fans and also reiterated that he wanted to be here next season, but couldn't comment on the club's future, with no communication having taken place with Ellis Short.

Join the Chronicle SAFC team for all the latest from the Stadium of Light throughout the day.

Player of the year

Sunderland will announce their player of the year on Wednesday night - who should win it?

12:58Craig Johns

Watch the U23s for free this evening

Big game for the youngsters as they look to avoid relegation themselves. You can watch the game on the Swansea website:

12:52Craig Johns

Wes Hoolahan to leave Norwich

The midfielder has been there since 2008 and has made over 300 appearances.

He told the club website:

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself at Norwich City and it’s going to be an emotional day on Saturday against Leeds. I just want to say to the fans thanks for the support, you’ve been amazing throughout my whole time here.

(Image: PA)

11:37Craig Johns

Shearer on Sunderland's relegation

He wrote in his Sun column:

I take no pleasure from Sunderland’s demise.

How can a club of that size, with that stadium, find themselves in the third tier of English football?

Mismanagement on a huge scale from an owner who has long since wanted out.

It said everything about the malaise, that few people there even seemed to realise they had gone down after Saturday’s home loss to Burton.

It is going to be a long haul back and don’t bank on a quick promotion.

Every game next season will be like a cup final for their opponents, who will see the Black Cats as a major scalp.

What we will not be having soon is a North East derby — and I’ll miss the great atmospheres.

They are great to play in but, unless they’re drawn in a cup, there won’t be another for a while.

10:07Craig Johns

Accrington Stanley boss on Sunderland

They’ll be playing one-another next season, and John Coleman has a lot of sympathy for Sunderland fans...

08:49Craig Johns

Out of contract stars to learn their fate

John O’Shea, Marc Wilson, Billy Jones and Kazenga LuaLua are all out of contract, as is Tom Beadling who is up on loan at Dunfermline.

Coleman said on Saturday:

I will start talking to them now, now we know our fate. I will start dealing with them individually.

07:45KEY EVENT

Coleman on Ellis Short

The SAFC boss said:

It has not been easy to be honest.

I have not witnessed anything like this before where I have never spoken to a chairman. Fifteen years I have been a manager and I have had huge arguments with various chairmen because I wanted one thing and they wanted another. That is football, that is normal. But to have no conversation with him at all is bizarre, That is strange.

The club needs help. Whether it is me or someone else who walks through the door, we need someone above us to say we can or we cannot do this or that.

I do not have any (feeling towards Short) because I do not know the guy. I know he has ploughed a hell of a lot of money into this club and for some time, he has not wanted to be here. I know all the history but I have never been in his company. So it is very difficult for me to say how I feel about him.

He wants out. Fine. It’s about who comes in? I don’t want to be the one who misses out on this thing turning round.

Could I have done better here, could I have done better there? I am not going to blame Ellis. I know what I was walking into and I thought I could have affected it more and I haven’t, not like I wanted to.